Police are investigating the circumstances surrounding the death of 33-year-old Valentine Raymond who was gunned down along the Morne Coco Road, Diego Martin yesterday afternoon.

According to police reports, at about 12.30 p.m. Raymond, who lived a short distance away, was seen walking east along Morne Coco Road, when upon reaching the vicinity of the Pascal Recreational Ground, he was approached by an unknown gunman.

The assailant opened fire on Raymond, hitting him several times about the body before fleeing the scene.

Raymond fell to the ground and later died.

The police and emergency health services were notified and a party of officers from the Western Division and the Homicide Bureau of Investigations including Supt Balliram, Asp Thomas, Insp Dan, Insp Beard, Sgt John, Sgt Gosine, WSgt Sylvester, Cpl Jupiter, Cpl Fritt, Cpl Hunte and WPC Perez, among others, responded.

The area was cordoned off and crime scene investigators reportedly recovered several spent shells at the scene.

Police sources told the Express yesterday that Raymond was “known” to the police as he had previously received threats against his life, and had been shot sometime over the last three years.

Speaking to reporters yesterday at the scene, relatives said Raymond was the last boy of eight children and was a “cool and quiet person who didn’t trouble anyone”.

“He didn’t deserve that at all. From what my sisters said he was at home when he got a call. After that he said he coming back just now, went out the road, and they hear he get shot. Just like that. We still trying to come to terms with all of this,” explained a relative.

A district medical officer visited the scene and ordered the body’s removal to the Forensic Science Centre in St James where an autopsy is expected to be done today.